Best sedan ever made and why?
Posted by hypermiler2205@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 71 comments
List the make, model, engine displacement and why you think it’s the best sedan ever made
Personally I’d have to go with the 1999 BMW E39 M5, it has a 4.9L naturally aspirated V8 and it was made handle and accelerate well (plus the styling is incredible)
c0rbin9@reddit
W124 obviously
strongmanass@reddit
Rolls Royce Phantom VII (the first one under BMW). They resurrected the most prestigious brand that truthfully had been ailing for years ultimately due to the long-term ramifications of WWII. The design was perfect; it walked a very fine line between respecting the oldest nameplate in the industry and modernizing the brand. It lived up to the reputation of the finest car in the world. They built an even greater mythos of refinement with the V12 replacing the V8. It continues today.
Medical-Gate-9978@reddit
Agreed. I absolutely love the Phantom VII.
mehh604@reddit
CT5 V Blackwing.
CharacterMedium558@reddit
Yup only right answer.
E39 M5 is overrated. CT5-V Blackwing is significantly better in every possible way. More power, luxury, features, handling, reliability, sound, space, safety, design, etc. Did I mention weighs less than 5% more?
firewoodrack@reddit
Before I even opened the post I thought e39 M5
AmericanExcellence@reddit
same, i mean it's the only option. it remains the definition of a sport sedan.
CharacterMedium558@reddit
CT5-V Blackwing is significantly better in every possible way. More power, luxury, features, handling, reliability, sound, space, safety, design, etc. Did I mention it only weighs less than 5% more in terms of weight?
E39 M5 overrated...
ArthurFinchleyIII@reddit
If you had the choice you wouldn’t take an e30 m3?
Iridium-Silver@reddit
The E30 M3 was a 2+2 coupé only. The M3 did not get a saloon version until the E36.
ArthurFinchleyIII@reddit
I guess it depends on how you define sedan. Typically you can have 2 and 4 door sedans.
neodymiumex@reddit
3.0 CSL > E30 M3
firewoodrack@reddit
Nope
ArthurFinchleyIII@reddit
I guess it’s a trade off between refinement and engagement
Sweetwhitecamry@reddit
As a LS430 owner, I would say LS400
aamgdp@reddit
Mercedes W124
Safe_Presentation962@reddit
"Best" is a pretty wild category that can mean anything lol.
I mean, in terms of mass appeal, reliability, price point, and success -- probably the Toyota Camry.
cubs223425@reddit
Ironic because "wild" is one of the most broadly used terms these days too. It could be something unexpected or extreme. It could be really good or really bad. It could be offensive or insulting. No one really knows.
cgduncan@reddit
Exactly. Corolla is one where you feel every penny pinched. If budget is someone's only limitation. Corolla/Civic is fine, but the Accord and the Camry have almost always been worth the upgrade if one can afford it.
thetimechaser@reddit
JZX100 Tourer V, all models. Comfortable, spacious, built like a tank, sporty. Basically a supra drivetrain wearing a Camry costume.
Obviously I'm biased but I really really love these things. My 30 year old Chaser has less rattles than the GR Corolla I had off the lot. The engine is smoother with more tuning headroom. And I can fit more stuff in it despite one being a sedan and the other the hatchback.
NarcoCow@reddit
Underrated answer. One day I will import a Chaser.
GolfGodsAreReal@reddit
The Toyota Corolla, most produced vehicle of all time. Dependable and durable
MessyMcMessMaker@reddit
If we are thinking of sedans as appliances, meaning it moved a person from point a to point b in a cost effective manner, then I would agree.
But if there is any sort of driving pleasure criteria involved, then the Corolla will be closer to the bottom of the list than the top.
NarcoCow@reddit
Yeah it’s just a tricky question - the answer just ends up being whatever sold the most.
strongmanass@reddit
Damn, I wish I'd thought of that. It's not something people in developed countries can appreciate, but the Toyota Corolla is the most important vehicle in history. For the first time ever, millions of people in rural areas in developing countries could leave their immediate surroundings for better job prospects without uprooting their families (which they couldn't afford to do). And they didn't have to worry about whether they'd break down on the way to work and have to give up that day's wages. Realistically they were the third, fourth, tenth owners. But the car was so reliable it didn't matter.
lee1026@reddit
That is a really weird way to spell Honda Cub.
strongmanass@reddit
I guess I did say vehicle. I'd still give it to the Corolla, but the Cub is a good shout. I love that YouTube video where they tried to kill it by running it on cooking oil and dropping it off a building and it still started after all the abuse.
lee1026@reddit
The Corolla is the car for the first world. Someone still need to buy the things new for the 18 year old to get one as the 5th owner.
The cub, now that thing is cheap enough that even rural areas of developing countries can start getting the things new. Granted, only the richer people of the rural developing countries can start getting the things, but that is enough to kick start the thing with a long chain forming.
strongmanass@reddit
There are many circumstances where someone just needs a car instead of a bike. And the Corolla is the car that mobilized the developing world reliably instead of spending every waking moment repairing some old Soviet pile of crap.
ghostogresnowrabbit@reddit
The legendary VW Santana.
GolfGodsAreReal@reddit
I've got a 2009 Corolla with 62,000 miles on it and I'll probably drive it till I die
strongmanass@reddit
With only occasional maintenance it'll outlive you.
Round_Ad_6369@reddit
The real answer. The e39 M5 circlejerk is pretty funny though
GolfGodsAreReal@reddit
Agreed
LionAccomplished8129@reddit
LS430. Quality, comfort, performance, long term reliabilty
NarcoCow@reddit
That’s not even the LS everyone remembers - the LS400
And why would it be the best? It was outsold by the German competition - the S class & 7 series
Sweetwhitecamry@reddit
As a LS430 owner, I would have to say LS400
Far_Negotiation8009@reddit
Performance ?
LionAccomplished8129@reddit
Yeah even though its tuned for comfort. It can still move especially at higher speeds.
Far_Negotiation8009@reddit
I agree with all of it but performance.
LionAccomplished8129@reddit
That depends on your definition of it. If youre looking to carve corners then no. But it gets up to speed extremely well with little effort.
leftlanespawncamper@reddit
I'd give it to the LS400 over the LS430. The LS400 was much more culturally significant.
LionAccomplished8129@reddit
Can't argue that.
Then_Marketing_4748@reddit
the lexus ls from that era was pretty bulletproof, my neighbor had one that went like 300k miles with just regular maintenance. those v8s were smooth as butter and interior was way ahead of its time
Automatic_Zebra_1099@reddit
E90 M3 / E60 M5.
Yes there’s reliability concerns for both engines.
Yes they drink oil.
Yes they have abysmal fuel economy.
Yes they have questionable tech.
Yes the E60 has a unique design to it.
But my god. Those engines and the noises they make as they get spooled up, especially the S85 but the S65 was just as good.
4.0L NA V8 pushing 414BHP
5.0L NA V10 pushing 507BHP.
Amazing.
NarcoCow@reddit
lol this being downvoted with the ls430 (not even 400) is r/cars accidentally slipping into r/carscirclejerk
This duo is actually peak. I need an e60 m5 and e90 convertible in my life
frozentime4@reddit
Manual E60 M5 is the way!
That said, reliability is not bad once Rod Bearings, VANOS, and Throttle Actuators are done for the s85.
costafilh0@reddit
BMW M3 E90
PurdontS2k@reddit
My CT4 Blackwing specifically because it’s mine and it gives me the fizz
minemaster11@reddit
Ah, I see you are a GM individual of fine taste
PurdontS2k@reddit
I’m grateful for the chance to own 2 dream cars!
kstetter@reddit
Ford Falcon BA, a big sedan with best six cylinder ever made
dontworryaboutit1295@reddit
E28 M5 just to say that without this there’d be no super sedans/saloons.
lee1026@reddit
2nd Gen Prius.
Engine displacement... Don't know, don't care. The thing was crazy useful - it held way more stuff than it looked at first glance. Every component in there lasts essentially forever. Maintenance free transmissions are wonderful things, that engine just doesn't break.
So many of those things are still on the road, decades later. They cost almost thing to keep running, and despite their age, they actually do okay in fuel economy still.
Animanganime@reddit
I’m tempted to quote Christian Von Koenigsegg but I don’t want a thousand downvotes.
rational_overthinker@reddit
1992 Buick Park Avenue with the most reliable V6 ever made
AP-Prime@reddit
LS400 hands down.
swfs0@reddit
Several strong contenders for this:
W140 S-Class E38 7-series E39 5-series Toyota Crown (90s and 2000s era) Toyota Century V12 Nissan President / Infiniti Q45 / Infiniti M45 Ford Crown Victoria / Lincoln Towncar Rolls Royce Silver Spur Bentley Arnage Jaguar XJ40 Audi S8 (D3 & D4 gen, V10 and biturbo V8)
I'm sure there are many others I'm missing ...
SwissMargiela@reddit
Yeah M cars and Corollas are cool, but have you met my lord and savior, the V6 Accord?
Multifaceted-Simp@reddit
05-2006 c55 AMG.
5.4L naturally aspirated v8, full of tech, quality, and style, incredibly reliable.
HardLithobrake@reddit
Corolla would be the end-all objective answer if taking sales numbers as primary metric
run_uz@reddit
E39 M5, GS400, E39 540i, w210 e55. V8 cruiser sedan life
Cool-Bunch6645@reddit
190e 16v because cool as fuck and dogleg first gear
Dangit_Bud@reddit
Facelift BMW e38 740i sport.
theb3arjevv@reddit
If we're considering every single factor that goes into a sedan being "good"?
It's probably the Infiniti G35. Reliable, affordable, practical, good speed, good handling, reasonably luxurious. It probably checks the most boxes of any sedan ever made.
It's not particularly great at anything, but it was good at pretty much everything a sedan is supposed to be good at.
The Mazdaspeed 6, Cadillac CT5, Chevy SS, and BMW 1 series sedans would be the other contenders I can think of. I'm sure there are others.
If price and reliability drop in importance, then the list changes completely. The answer is almost certainly whatever your favorite M5 is, with arguments for whatever your favorite old Merc is.
rhunter99@reddit
First Gen Lexus LS. Power, reliability, refinement. F* ze Gemans!
HP_594@reddit
All the Panther platform sedans
My personal favorite among them is the Marauder, with the Town Car coming in second.
It is literally an icon in itself
Alveh@reddit
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio,
The return of Alfa Romeo after a long hiatus of fwd fiats with fiat scribbled out and Alfa Romeo written on with crayon
505 hp v6, near perfect weight distribution and unique engine sound
Saleenfan@reddit
Maserati Quattroporte 5 with the 4.7 (especially the later years with the fixed cam variators). By far and away the best sounding sedan, some of the best steering in a big body sedan, comfy as hell interior that's amazing, and with no gimmicks. It was close for me with e39 m5 but the Maserati steering put it over for me
bschmidt25@reddit
The E39 set a bar that won’t be broken, IMO. Sure, some cars today have more power and are faster. But no sedan will ever drive like the E39 did. They were so solid, the steering and suspension was a dream, the size was perfect, and the styling is timeless. Nothing like blasting down the highway in one. We BMW people didn’t know how good we had it back then.
_jagwaz@reddit
2000’s Buick Lesabre. 3.6 V6. Best value proposition for something comfortable and reliable maybe ever.